By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE people of Tobago are being spited by the People National Movement (PNM) led Government and the proposed amended Tobago Self-Governance Bill was just to cement the party’s will on Tobagonians.
Speaking a at a press conference in Port-of-Spain on Wednesday morning, Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar dramatically tore a copy of the Constitutional Amendment Bill stating that the Government did not genuinely care about Tobago and the Opposition had more respect and concern for the sister isle.
That was the underlying reason why the Government breached their own Standing Orders relating to the speaking time for Members of Parliament.
On Tuesday, the Opposition MPS walked out of Parliament while Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley was speaking in Parliament and maintained on Wednesday that the MPs would not be attending the House of Representatives scheduled for 1.30pm that day.
“We took the decision last night, given what transpired last night. We took a principle stand today to stay away from the Parliament,” Persad-Bissessar said.
Persad-Bissessar also defended the reasons why there was never a United National Congress (UNC) candidate to contest the general election saying that Tobagonians were too respected and their desire to have self-governance was too important for the UNC to place a Trinidad candidate to represent them.
“I think the Government needs to speak again to the people of Tobago,” she said.
She noted that Tobagonian PNM politicians have been saying the amendments were not perfect.
“If you all know it is not perfect, why are you trying to ram it down the throats of the people?” she asked.
The Opposition Leader who also gave further explanations as to why the Opposition MPs walked out during Dr Rowley’s contribution to the debate on the Tobago Self-Government Bill on Tuesday said Dr Rowley hijacked the debate by having his speaking time extended to two hours.
On Monday, Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis requested that the speaking times for contributors be adjusted which was granted by House Speaker Brigid Annisette-George.
However, this meant that the Opposition MPs would get less speaking times during debates.
A violation of Standing Order 46.2 was what took place Persad-Bissessar said because Government was afraid of the Opposition.
And it was difficult to support such a Bill especially since almost two days were spent with Government MPs “ranting and raving” she said.
And the Opposition Leader called for more unity to working together.
